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Clean Solutions to
Kentucky's Dirty Problems
Safer States Coalition (a KEF partner) Releases Annual
Analysis of State Legislatures Considering Bills to
Limit Toxic Chemical Exposures
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Here in Kentucky, as noted in the analysis, we are interested in HB 236, a bill introduced by Reps. Marzian, Palumbo and Jenkins that would ban bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula cans.
Click Here to Access
One-Page Fact Sheet
Click Here to
Access Analysis
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KEF Releases "Health Impacts of Coal and
Clean Energy Options in Kentucky”
01.24.12 Press Release
TOXIC COAL VS CLEAN ENERGY:
New Report Examines How KY Energy Policies Impact the Health of KY Families
To access "Health Impacts of Coal and Clean Energy Options in Kentucky",
Click on report image at right.
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Women's Voices for the Earth releases independent report
Dirty Secrets: What's Hiding in Your Cleaning Products?
Troubador Warren Byrom,
from Lexington
Sugar Tree: Megan Naseman,
Amber Fields & Deborah Payne
And Thanks to the Musicians!
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Yeast Feast
A Good Time Was Had by All!!
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Many Thanks to Our
Business Sponsors:
Appalachian Fed Credit Union
Appalachian Fireside Gallery
Berea Coffee & Tea
Black Feather
Chiropractic Health Solutions
Evans Tire & Auto Care
Happy Meadow
Karen Solberg Ceramics
Liquor Mart
Kentucky Printing
Law Offices of Robert Ukeiley
Liquor Mart
Madison Garden
Main Street Cafe
Mario's Pizza
Masala--Fine Indian Cuixine
Monty's Spirits
Papaleno's
PeaceCraft
Pinnacle View Inn B&B
Robie Books
Snug Hollow Farm B&B |
Congratulations Baking Contest Winners!
1st Place: Sarah Belanger--Honey Whole Wheat Bread
2nd Place: Jeff From--Wheat Bread Braid
3rd Place: Adam Walker--Chocolate Raspberry Babka
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A report released by the Breast Cancer Fund shows the presence of BPA in canned foods marketed to children.
KY Moms: Toxic Chemicals Don’t Belong in Kids Canned Foods
09.21.11 Press Release
The Report BPA in Kids' Canned Food:
A product-testing report by the Breast Cancer Fund
New Study Finds State Protections for Coal Ash
Grossly Inadequate
KY regulations lack critical safeguards for public health, allow
operation of dangerous dumps
08.17.11 Press Release
07.28.11 The Study: State of Failure--How States Fail to Protect Our Health &
Drinking Water from Toxic Coal Ash
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Environmental Justice Fair
Chickasaw Park, Louisville
Saturday, Aug. 13
Sponsored by Rubbertown Emergency Action (REACT) and the Carl Braden Memorial Center, the EJ Fair brought together folks for good food, good conversation and good information on how to make their families safer. The event's press conference at Chickasaw Lake brought attention not only to the dioxin that pollutes that lake, but to the many environmental causes of illness in the community. The workshop that followed provided information on how folks can advocate on their own behalf.
Speakers at the press conference pictured
at left (from top to bottom) are:
* Michele Roberts, Advocates for
Environmental Human Rights in DC;
* Eboni Cochran, Rubbertown
Emergency Action (REACT), Louisville;
*Attica Scott, KY Jobs for Justice,
Louisville
Access Louisville Courier-Journal story below.
08/13/11 "Groups say pollution violates human rights"
| For more information go to REACT's Facebook Page. |
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KY Moms organize Stroller Brigade to demand protection from Toxic chemicals
Lexington, August 10--In Woodland Park, KY moms (& dads) and kids rallied in support of a Senate bill that would take meaningful steps to protect the American public from toxic chemicals. The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S.847) would increase chemical safety, inform consumers on chemical hazards and protect vulnerable populations. |
Beth Ruggles, of Lexington, an organizer of the event called on KY senators to work for greater protection.
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 Sylvia From of Berea participated in the Stroller Brigade along with several other children.
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Stroller Brigade participants wrote letters to KY Senators Mitch McConnell & Rand Paul, urging them to support the Safe Chemicals Act.
See 08.10.11 Press Release. |
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Report Reveals High Birth Defect Rates in
Mountain Top Mining Communities
06.21.11 Press Release
Questions & Answers on Mountain Top Mining Birth Defects
Another Chemical Spill in Louisville
Wednesday night an unknown chemical spilled into the Ohio River near Rubbertown. The fire department says there was absolutely no danger to the public.
How could they know that? They don't know what the chemical was. They don't know how much was spilled. They don't know what kind of danger there might be to those who eat any fish that were exposed, however slightly, to the chemical.
Louisville Courier Journal
06/16/11 "Officials testing dead fish to determine chemical spill in Ohio River"
Kentuckians Testify in Favor of Protective Air
Standards for Coal-fired Power Plants
05.26.11 Press Release
Retardants in Products Made for Infants & Children
KEF & KY Moms call on product makers to
reject unnecessary chemicals
05.19.11 Press Release
Shawn Hutchins, a Berea College student from
Bardstown waits to testify in Atlanta at EPA's third
and final public hearing on its proposed
mercury/air toxics standards.
New Study Finds Toxic, Untested Flame
Danielle Kitchen from Bowling Green with her husband Nick
It is unfathomable that due
to our society’s negligence our
most precious creations are introduced to toxins even before their first breath
In preparation for my pregnancy
I have been meticulous with life style choices pertaining to my health. Finding out that my body
is already poisoned, and of course
I will pass those poisons along to
my child, is disheartening and
even makes me angry. |
Caitlin McClanahan from Berea with her daughter Jessie
I've taken
care not to expose my daughter to pesticides in food,
toxins in plastics like BPA, and chemical cleaners - it's alarming
to learn that products parents use every day, like car seats, could contain potentially harmful toxic chemicals found in unnecessary flame retardants.
It's a broken system that allows
such products into the marketplace and I applaud KEF for taking a stand to protect kids. |
Emily Russell from Berea with her daughter Lucy
I had heard about flame
retardants being in pillows but
had not realized that they were
in so many different baby
products.
As a mother I bought baby
products to help my new
born thrive. I was unaware of the harmful chemical exposure that I was giving to her. I am appalled
that I have been unknowingly endangering my child’s future development. |
More information can be found at the
Alliance for Toxic Free Fire Safety website.
What's the State of Your Air
Air quality matters--We all have to breathe
Unfortunately too many Kentuckians are living in places where
the air they breathe is harming their health.
The American Lung Association just released their 12th
annual report on air quality "State of the Air 2011." |
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The report assigns grades for two different types of air pollution: ozone (smog) and particle
pollution (soot) and lists America's most polluted cities. Two of Kentucky's cities -- Louisville and Ashland --
as well as areas in Northern Kentucky around Cincinnati, fall into this category.
But that doesn't mean the rest of Kentucky is off the hook; we all deserve the best possible air quality.
Supporting policy that cleans up the air and allows the EPA to do its job makes for
healthier Kentuckians. Enter your zip code below to learn about the air quality in your county
OR, you may learn there are no air pollution monitors in your county at all. CHECK IT OUT.
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EPA Proposes Stronger Air Toxic Emissions Standards for Polyvinyl Chloride Production (PVC) Facilities
PVC is used to make a range of plastic products such as vinyl siding, plumbing & raincoats. Each year PVC plants pump some 500,000 pounds of vinyl chloride -- a human carcinogen -- and many other toxins into the atmosphere.
Westlake Chemical in Calvert City KY manufactures PVC.
EPA's 04.18.11 Press Release
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KEF files Notice of Intent (NOI) to sue the EPA for failing to take action on KY State Implementation Plans for curbing harmful levels of soot.
04.15.11 Press Release
Click HERE to access NOI
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Sen. Lautenberg Introduces "Safe Chemicals Act of 2011"
Groundbreaking bill would help protect families from toxic chemicals linked to reproductive disorders, cancer, learning and developmental disabilities and other serious health problems
04.14.11 Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Press Release
04.14.11 Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg's Press Release
KEF's Executive Director, Elizabeth Crowe--"KEF applauds Sen. Lautenberg and those
senators who sponsored this important bill, which puts the burden on chemical companies
to prove that their chemicals are safe before putting them on the market."
Safe Chemicals Act has provisions on some long-standing
Environmental Justice concerns
04.14.11 Environmental Justice & Health Alliance Press Release
Eboni Cochran, Co-coordinator of REACT (Rubbertown Emergency Action) --"We are optimistic
about the introduction of a bill that highlights Environmental Justice issues and calls for safer chemicals, which is crucial for people living near chemical facilities like those in Rubbertown."
KEF supports legislation tightening chemical security regs
More than 100 million Americans live in the danger zone of a chemical disaster.
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KEF is one of 106 signees to a letter calling on U.S. Senators to support legislation to be introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, which would close dangerous gaps in current chemical plant security laws. Click here to read letter.
The recent explosion at the Carbide plant in Louisville, in which
two persons were killed, highlights the importance of Lautenberg's legislation for Kentucky. |
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KEF's Issues
_________________________________
to KEF
PHOTOS
from SMITH 1 IS SCRAPPED Party
Click HERE.
Op-Ed by Dr. Vicki Holmberg
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NEWS
Lexington Herald-Leader
01/25/12 "Environmental group urges lawmakers to consider health impact of coal"
Louisville Courier-Journal
01/25/12 "Coal's environmental impact focus of report for legislature"
01/24/12 James Bruggers Blog "Clean energy battle in Kentucky: Tilting at windmills?"
Forbes
01/24/12 "Could Rising Healthcare and Utility Bills Get Kentucky Off Coal?"
Associated Press
01/24/12 "Study: Reduce KY coal dependency for better health"
WFPL
01/24/12 "Report Highlights Coal's Effect on Health, Pushes for Clean Energy Legislation"
Lexington Herald-Leader
10/28/11 Op-Ed "Prevent breast cancer by regulating use of toxins"
Louisville Courier-Journal
11/17/11 James Bruggers Blog "Cleaning products and right-to-know"
Louisville Courier-Journal
10/13/11 "Rubbertown plant faces record air-pollution, explosion fines"
Environment & Energy Daily
10/13/11 "Poll shows voter support for EPA rules"
Greenwire
10/12/11 "FDA begins review of ban on BPA in baby bottles, but process could take months
Chemical & Engineering News
10/03/11 "States Continue to Ban chemicals"
Lexington Herald-Leader
09/27/11 "Appalachia faces steep coal decline"09/25/11 LTEs"Get out of bed with Big Coal"
08/18/11 "Environmental groups criticize Kentucky's regulation of coal ash"
Louisville Courier-Journal
08/17/11 James Bruggers Blog "Coal ash study looks at state rules, finds them lacking"
Richmond Register
08/16/11 "Local parents join in toxic chemicals protest"
Louisville Courier-Journal
08/13/11 "Groups say pollution violates human rights"
WEKU
08/10/11 "Chemical Concerns"
Louisville Courier-Journal
08/08/11 James Bruggers Blog "Moms press for better toxics law"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
07/14/11 "Study links birth defects to mountaintop mining"
United Press International
07/14/11 "Birth defects linked to mountaintop removal practices"
Louisville Courier-Journal
06/16/11 "Officials testing dead fish to determine chemical spill in Ohio River"
Berea Citizen
06/02/11 "Berea Students Address EPA"
Environmental Health News
05/17/11 "Array of flame retardants found in baby car seats, changing pads, other items"
Louisville Courier-Journal
06/16/11 "Chemical Suspected as Carcinogen Is in Baby Products"
USAToday
05/19/11 "Toxic flame retardants found in 80% of baby products"
05/05/11 "Chemicals found in flame retardant baby products can have lasting effects"
Greenwire
05/17/11 "White House starts review of EPA rules for coal plants"
E&E PM
05/16/11 "EPA delays boiler rules indefinitely"
ClimateWire
05/11/11 "Yes Men target Peobody as environmental groups rip AEP coal plan"
E&E Daily
05/11/11 "Coal: Ky. Dems feel indusry ire"
Louisville Courier-Journal
05/09/11 "Two hurt in Rubbertown explosions at Eckart aluminum plant"
04/24/11 "LG&E, KU may retire coal-fired units"
Greenwire
04/22/11 "China details ban on baby food containers with BPA"
Lexington Herald-Leader
04/21/11 "KU asks to expand energy efficiency programs"
New York Times
04/18/11 "Substitutes for Bisphenol A Could Be More Harmful"
E&E PM
04/14/11 "Lautenberg tries again on TSCA reform legislation"
Greenwire
04/14/11 "TVA to retire 18 coal boilers in landmark pact"
04/13/11 "Maine Legislature sends BPA ban to governor"
E&E Daily
04/13/11 "Rand Paul crusades against efficiency standards"
04/08/11 "Dems, GOP spar over lead limits in toys"
Greenwire
04/07/11 "Court weighs EPA role in approvalof Ky. power plants"
E&E Daily
04/07/11 "Pallone reintroduces bill to curtail mountaintop removal waste"
04/06/11 "Industry takes aim at Lautenberg bill--again"
Tonawanda News
04/05/11 "Learning lessons from Louisville"
Louisville Courier-Journal
04/03/11 "Louisville seeks proposals for new alert system in wake of Rubbertown plant blast"
Greenwire
03/28/11 "Uptick in disease clusters spurs calls for TSCA reform"
WFPL 89.3
03/28/11 "Rubbertown Residents Sound Off About Plant Explosion"
Louisville Courier-Journal
03/28/11 "Louisville vows fixes for Rubbertown alerts"
Lexington Herald-Leader
03/25/11 "Salon event clips hair to test for mercury"
Louisville Courier-Journal
03/25/11 "Diesel fuel spill reported at Chevron on Bells Lane"
03/24/11 "Plant's neighbors vent ire over lack of warning"
E&E News PM
03/24/11 "EPA promoted ash reuse without adequate risk data--IG"
Lexington Herald-Leader
03/23/11 Op-Ed "Ky. voices: Mothers to be, beware of mercury"
Louisville Courier-Journal
03/23/11 "JBS ammonia gas leak stopped in Butchertown"
WHAS11
03/23/11 "Ammonia leak confirmed at JBS Swift on Story Ave.; plant evacuated"
03/23/11 "Could threat of severe weather mean another exploosion at Rubbertown plant?"
Louisville Courier-Journal
03/22/11 "Timeline: History of Rubbertown"
03/22/11 "Second worker dies following blast
03/22/11 "One dead, three injured in Rubbertown chemical plant fire"
Lexington Herald-Leader
03/20/11 Editorial "Cleaning our air is worth the cost"
WEKU
03/17/11 "New EPA Proposal Stirs Controversy"
Greenwire
03/16/11 "EPA proposes toxic emissions rules for power plants"
Louisville Courier-Journal
03/16/11 "EPA proposes mercury, toxic air, limits on coal plants; rate increases likely"
E&E News PM
03/09/11 "Enviro groups accuse Ky. mining company of Clean Water Act violations"
Winchester Sun
03/03/11 "Residents concerned about coal ash"
WEKU
03/03/11 "Renewable Energy Discussion in Frankfort"
E&E News PM
03/01/11 "Whitfield accedes to Waxman's demands, schedules hearing on science"
Greenwire
03/01/11 "Benefits of Clean Air Act rules to reach $2T -- EPA" |
WHAT'S NEWS Archive
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